June 13, 2019
BBC News Africa



A Tanzanian man who built a small power station, which has supplied his
village with electricity for nearly three decades, received a $12,000
(£9,400) prize in recognition of his work when he met President John
Magufuli.

John Mwafute, who was only educated up to primary school level, used a
local river in southern Tanzania to create a hydropower station. Initially,
he taught himself how to do it through trial and error and then got help
from a German NGO.

Mr Mwafute was nicknamed Pwagu, which can be translated as "dreamer".

On meeting the inventor, President Magufuli said the country should value
its talents.

But he also chose to criticise the state-owned electricity company,
Tanesco, for not assisting small-scale suppliers like Mr Mwafute.

"Pwagu has produce electricity since the 1980s and Tanesco has done nothing
to help up to this day," the president said.

Mr Magufuli ordered Tanesco to support him.

In Tanzania, less than half of households are connected to the electricity
grid.






-- 
Ann Marie

"The art of living consists of knowing what to pay attention to and what to
ignore."  -- Mardy Grothe

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